Unknown certified mail...thoughts?

[Elegant]

I received a notice in the mail that there is a piece of certified mail waiting for me at the post office. It is from a law firm...I am scared...I haven't done anything wrong...suggestions? I'm not expecting anything so that's why I wonder what to do.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

Go get it! You won''t know what it is until you do that.

Then come back and tell us what it is

 

[purrfectpear]

Behind on any mortgage payments? Husband divorcing you? Forgot to pay the IRS?

 

[Loves Vintage]

Date: 5/22/2009 1:52:48 PM
Author: DivaDiamond007
Go get it! You won't know what it is until you do that.

Then come back and tell us what it is

I was thinking the exact same thing, especially the part about coming back to tell us! Maybe it's not bad news? What if it's an inheritance from a long lost relative?

 

[justjulia]

Breathe. It''ll be ok. Can someone go with you to the post office?

 

[Elegant]

No, I''m all paid up.

This morning I went to the post office because I received another certified mail notice (it was my non-re-elect form from work and I was expecting it), and the guy at the counter brings both of them up. He says - oh, did you know you have two of them? I lied and said no - he then asked me if I had received a notice in the mail - I said no - he asked me if I wanted to take both or just the one I cam in for - I said just the one I came in for.

The other one was a thick envelope. It looked about a bit more than 1/4" thick and it looked like they took 8.5" x 11" paper and folded it portrait style.

Scared... options... do I HAVE to pick it up? I mean, I seriously haven''t done anything wrong... What is in it that they want me to sign for it? The thing is - nobody really knows I moved except my family, so how the heck would they be able to track me down - maybe they got my address from work and my principal is suing me for something? Why make me sign for it? I don''t get it...

 

[Elegant]

Date: 5/22/2009 2:08:54 PM
Author: justjulia
Breathe. It''ll be ok. Can someone go with you to the post office?

Yes, but I am scared to get it...ignorance is bliss, right?

 

[MonkeyPie]

If you honestly haven''t done anything, then there''s no reason to be scared and worried! I get spam that''s certified all the time. So it might be nothing.

 

[Elegant]

Date: 5/22/2009 2:05:22 PM
Author: Loves Vintage

Date: 5/22/2009 1:52:48 PM

Author: DivaDiamond007

Go get it! You won''t know what it is until you do that.


Then come back and tell us what it is

I was thinking the exact same thing, especially the part about coming back to tell us! Maybe it''s not bad news? What if it''s an inheritance from a long lost relative?

No way, no chance - ALL of my family is poor, poor, poor...

 

[justjulia]

Okay, Enough with trying to ignore this thing. You''re better off just going back and getting it. If it''s that hairy you''ll get a lawyer to decipher it. It is probably just a follow up to the nonrenewal business--As a matter of fact, odds are way good that it is just paperwork related to that. You are giving them all your power by ignoring it. Just go and get it over with.

You are bigger than this, whatever it is. Just keep saying that to yourself.

 

[Camille]

Can''t hide away from it, they will resend anyway!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Date: 5/22/2009 2:21:30 PM
Author: Elegant

Date: 5/22/2009 2:05:22 PM
Author: Loves Vintage

Date: 5/22/2009 1:52:48 PM

Author: DivaDiamond007

Go get it! You won''t know what it is until you do that.


Then come back and tell us what it is

I was thinking the exact same thing, especially the part about coming back to tell us! Maybe it''s not bad news? What if it''s an inheritance from a long lost relative?

No way, no chance - ALL of my family is poor, poor, poor...

Sorry, I was trying to insert a positive possibility for you. Now, I recall your other post about your job/the school. It could just be some sort of official notice that they want to be sure you have received. Is it a law firm that is local or out of state? Have you looked up their office on-line? Maybe they list education law as one of their practice areas?

And, no, you don''t have to sign for it or pick it up. You could just ignore it, but that would be very hard for me to do, and I''m sure they would try to send it again, so might as well get it over with, right? I am sure it is not as bad as you think. They just want to have proof that you received the letter.

 

[Elegant]

Date: 5/22/2009 2:26:41 PM
Author: Loves Vintage

Date: 5/22/2009 2:21:30 PM

Author: Elegant

Date: 5/22/2009 2:05:22 PM

Author: Loves Vintage

Date: 5/22/2009 1:52:48 PM


Author: DivaDiamond007


Go get it! You won''t know what it is until you do that.



Then come back and tell us what it is

I was thinking the exact same thing, especially the part about coming back to tell us! Maybe it''s not bad news? What if it''s an inheritance from a long lost relative?

No way, no chance - ALL of my family is poor, poor, poor...

Sorry, I was trying to insert a positive possibility for you. Now, I recall your other post about your job/the school. It could just be some sort of official notice that they want to be sure you have received. Is it a law firm that is local or out of state? Have you looked up their office on-line? Maybe they list education law as one of their practice areas?


And, no, you don''t have to sign for it or pick it up. You could just ignore it, but that would be very hard for me to do, and I''m sure they would try to send it again, so might as well get it over with, right? I am sure it is not as bad as you think. They just want to have proof that you received the letter.

It is a semi-local law firm. They want proof that I received it - why? Why not just mail the darn thing and then later something else? I am a very suspicious person. After all of the screw overs I have been getting this school year, nothing surprises me...I get terminated for false accusations and I am a very good teacher. The funny thing is that it is not the law form that my union says they are using. That is another reason why I am scared. Yes, it could be official docs about the pink slip I received, but it would be through the union lawyers.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Can you call your union to see if it's another firm that the school has used before? I'm sure that it's nothing as bad as you might be thinking. If they were suing you (not that I'm suggesting they'd have any reason too, just responding to your statement above), then you would be served with papers from a process server/marshall/sheriff. They want proof that you received it so they can put the little green card in their file. It's a fairly routine way of docmenting receipt of documents, and I hope that you will not worry too much more about it.

 

[lucyandroger]

Ignoring the letter will not make whatever you''re concerned about go away. It will only give you less and less time to respond to/ prepare for whatever it is.

Get the mail, read it, and respond appropriately. Wasting time worrying can only hurt you.

 

[purrfectpear]

For pity''s sake, you should have picked up the first time. Now you need to make another trip.

No, you can''t avoid whatever it is by not picking it up

If it''s something they want you to have and they need proof of service, they''ll just hire a process server. Do you really want that

 

[Shoopy]

Am I the only one that finds this sort of silly for lack of a better term?

I''m not a lawyer but if it was something like a subpoena, don''t they have to deliver that in person?

Maybe its a bunch of brochures from the local firm because they catch wind of things like terminations and want to send you info on representing you? I would just go pick it up honestly. If you don''t, you''ll just be thinking about how awful this package could potentially be and drive yourself nuts, KWIM?

 

[Circe]

You should pick it up: ignorance is *never* bliss, and in the meantime, you''re, a) freaking yourself out, and b) leaving yourself less prepared for whatever it might be. You''ll be able to handle it, whatever it is - and avoiding it is only a temporary measure, and one that causes more difficulty then it alleviates.

 

[tlh]

Date: 5/22/2009 2:25:26 PM
Author: Camille
Can''t hide away from it, they will resend anyway!

yeah, and if it is really bad they''ll send a dude like in Pineapple express!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 5/22/2009 3:14:05 PM
Author: fieryred33143
Am I the only one that finds this sort of silly for lack of a better term?

Nope...

Elegant-with all due respect ignoring it really won''t make it go away! If it''s something serious then they will hire someone to serve you the papers.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Elegant, I would seriously just go and pick it up. I''m a paralegal, and I can tell you this: If you DON''T pick it up, the mail will be returned to the law firm marked as "unclaimed." Their next step is to have you served in person. In Pennsylvania (where I work), that usually has to be done by a Sheriff''s deputy. Ummm, I''m thinking you don''t want that to happen, right???

 

[movie zombie]

and i agree you could be hurting yourself by not picking this up! if it is something you have to respond to, you''re going to be left with no time to do so.

mz

ps and now they have proof they tried to contact you but were unable to do so..............whoever the "who" may or may not be.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 5/22/2009 3:40:40 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
Elegant, I would seriously just go and pick it up. I''m a paralegal, and I can tell you this: If you DON''T pick it up, the mail will be returned to the law firm marked as ''unclaimed.'' Their next step is to have you served in person. In Pennsylvania (where I work), that usually has to be done by a Sheriff''s deputy. Ummm, I''m thinking you don''t want that to happen, right???

Isn''t there a chance (if you don''t pick it up and a server cannot find you) whatever the letter is may be printed in the newspaper?

 

[kcoursolle]

If you haven''t done anything wrong, then there is nothing to worry about.

 

[purrfectpear]

Date: 5/22/2009 3:43:55 PM
Author: MC

Date: 5/22/2009 3:40:40 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
Elegant, I would seriously just go and pick it up. I''m a paralegal, and I can tell you this: If you DON''T pick it up, the mail will be returned to the law firm marked as ''unclaimed.'' Their next step is to have you served in person. In Pennsylvania (where I work), that usually has to be done by a Sheriff''s deputy. Ummm, I''m thinking you don''t want that to happen, right???

Isn''t there a chance (if you don''t pick it up and a server cannot find you) whatever the letter is may be printed in the newspaper?

Nope. Not a chance.

Some public records are posted, but they typically use such obscure papers that I''ve never even seen one. Who reads a whole page of public records anyway. Your nosy Aunt Minnie?

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 5/22/2009 3:43:55 PM
Author: MC

Date: 5/22/2009 3:40:40 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
Elegant, I would seriously just go and pick it up. I''m a paralegal, and I can tell you this: If you DON''T pick it up, the mail will be returned to the law firm marked as ''unclaimed.'' Their next step is to have you served in person. In Pennsylvania (where I work), that usually has to be done by a Sheriff''s deputy. Ummm, I''m thinking you don''t want that to happen, right???

Isn''t there a chance (if you don''t pick it up and a server cannot find you) whatever the letter is may be printed in the newspaper?

Good point, MC. If she doesn''t pick up the certified, and if the private process server (whether that be the sheriff or whoever) can''t find her, then the law firm would have to ask the Court to allow service by publication. In such situations, the Court usually grants that request, and the notice (or whatever it is) would then be published in the local paper. In our judicial district, the requirement is publishing in TWO local newspapers.

Elegant, I would REALLY go sign for that envelope if I were you!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 5/22/2009 4:09:07 PM
Author: purrfectpear

Date: 5/22/2009 3:43:55 PM
Author: MC

Date: 5/22/2009 3:40:40 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
Elegant, I would seriously just go and pick it up. I''m a paralegal, and I can tell you this: If you DON''T pick it up, the mail will be returned to the law firm marked as ''unclaimed.'' Their next step is to have you served in person. In Pennsylvania (where I work), that usually has to be done by a Sheriff''s deputy. Ummm, I''m thinking you don''t want that to happen, right???

Isn''t there a chance (if you don''t pick it up and a server cannot find you) whatever the letter is may be printed in the newspaper?

Nope. Not a chance.

Some public records are posted, but they typically use such obscure papers that I''ve never even seen one. Who reads a whole page of public records anyway. Your nosy Aunt Minnie?

Actually, many jurisdictions do allow service by publication. (See my post to MC above.) And yes, in such cases, the notice does appear in that obscure section of the classifieds, but you just never know who might be reading that! A LOT of people have nosy Aunt Minnies!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Date: 5/22/2009 4:09:38 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl

Date: 5/22/2009 3:43:55 PM
Author: MC

Date: 5/22/2009 3:40:40 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
Elegant, I would seriously just go and pick it up. I''m a paralegal, and I can tell you this: If you DON''T pick it up, the mail will be returned to the law firm marked as ''unclaimed.'' Their next step is to have you served in person. In Pennsylvania (where I work), that usually has to be done by a Sheriff''s deputy. Ummm, I''m thinking you don''t want that to happen, right???

Isn''t there a chance (if you don''t pick it up and a server cannot find you) whatever the letter is may be printed in the newspaper?

Good point, MC. If she doesn''t pick up the certified, and if the private process server (whether that be the sheriff or whoever) can''t find her, then the law firm would have to ask the Court to allow service by publication. In such situations, the Court usually grants that request, and the notice (or whatever it is) would then be published in the local paper. In our judicial district, the requirement is publishing in TWO local newspapers.

Elegant, I would REALLY go sign for that envelope if I were you!

This conversation assumes that it is a document important enough to require service of process. Not all documents that are sent by law firms via certified mail would be important enough to be served on the recipient. If it is a document that requires service of process, then they would have just served it to begin with. I''ve only seen service done by publication in foreclosure or estate cases. It''s not that common. I''m not sure why this thread has taken the direction it has, though it will probably cause Elegant more concern, as opposed to less, and I doubt that concern is warranted.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 5/22/2009 4:23:15 PM
Author: Loves Vintage

Date: 5/22/2009 4:09:38 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl

Date: 5/22/2009 3:43:55 PM
Author: MC

Date: 5/22/2009 3:40:40 PM
Author: Irishgrrrl
Elegant, I would seriously just go and pick it up. I''m a paralegal, and I can tell you this: If you DON''T pick it up, the mail will be returned to the law firm marked as ''unclaimed.'' Their next step is to have you served in person. In Pennsylvania (where I work), that usually has to be done by a Sheriff''s deputy. Ummm, I''m thinking you don''t want that to happen, right???

Isn''t there a chance (if you don''t pick it up and a server cannot find you) whatever the letter is may be printed in the newspaper?

Good point, MC. If she doesn''t pick up the certified, and if the private process server (whether that be the sheriff or whoever) can''t find her, then the law firm would have to ask the Court to allow service by publication. In such situations, the Court usually grants that request, and the notice (or whatever it is) would then be published in the local paper. In our judicial district, the requirement is publishing in TWO local newspapers.

Elegant, I would REALLY go sign for that envelope if I were you!

This conversation assumes that it is a document important enough to require service of process. Not all documents that are sent by law firms via certified mail would be important enough to be served on the recipient. If it is a document that requires service of process, then they would have just served it to begin with. I''ve only seen service done by publication in foreclosure or estate cases. It''s not that common. I''m not sure why this thread has taken the direction it has, though it will probably cause Elegant more concern, as opposed to less, and I doubt that concern is warranted.

LV, you are correct that we''re assuming the document is important enough to require service. It''s entirely possible that it''s just a simple letter. However, it''s not necessarily true that the law firm would have served it via a process server in the first place, again assuming it IS a legal document that needs to be served on Elegant. Most likely, they would try to serve it in the most cost-effective way possible. Whenever we can do a service via certified mail, we ALWAYS use that option first because it saves our client quite a bit of money. We only resort to private process servers or sheriff''s deputies if service by mail doesn''t work. Service by publication is a last resort.

What I''ve said in my posts was not intended to worry Elegant, but simply to let her know what *might* happen in the worst case scenario. Avoiding the mail is just not a good idea, and I would hate to see her wind up in a difficult situation which could be avoided simply by picking up the mail. Elegant asked for thoughts and suggestions as to what she should do. That''s what I gave her.

 

[crown1]

if you can handle a classroom of students you can muster the courage to pick up a certified mail envelope. you are making this hard for yourself with all of the speculation. just do it, you will have to deal with it sooner or later. you will only be signing that you received it. good luck!